Campaigners for the Windrush scandal have raised concerns about the home secretary’s delay in implementing a key proposal from the government’s review. Yvette Cooper, on the other hand, announced £1.5 million in additional funding to aid victims in seeking compensation overseen by a Windrush Commissioner- but neglecting to pass the recommended powers to an independent watchdog. Campaigners felt that Labour’s approach was appropriate but the new system lacked strength.
The Windrush Review, released in 2020, created 30 recommendations which were all agreed upon by former home secretary Priti Patel. However, three of them, including creating a commissioner for migrants and granting authority to the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to issue its reports, were withdrawn by her successor, Suella Braverman, in January 2023. The watchdog is now empowered to conduct inquiries, but the findings can only be released by the home secretary, limiting the watchdog’s power.
In June, a judge condemned Braverman’s move as “conspicuously unfair” after windrush victim Trevor Donald challenged its legality. Even as the Windrush Commissioner was introduced, Cooper failed to mention the role of the independent body, the Inspectorate. In February, David Neal, then the chief inspector of the Inspectorate, was fired for releasing reports he claimed the Home Office was hiding. At the time, Cooper said that various Conservative home secretaries had sought to conceal uncomfortable facts discovered by the chief inspector.”
Cooper has said that she is transforming the government’s method to ensure that a calamity such as this never occurs again and dignity is returned to those who were tragically affected. Following these announcements, Cooper met with windrush campaign groups’ members, some of whom welcomed the home secretary’s stance and said that the new administration grasped what campaigners wanted. However, the watchdog’s new authority was not discussed in the meeting
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